TRAINING & EQUIPMENT
BFS Baseball Goes
PRO
BY ROBIN JENNINGS
Learn winning baseball techniques from professionals
44 | BIGGER FASTER STRONGER
BFS_JanFeb07_.indd Sec7:44
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007
12/7/06 8:21:56 AM
F
ormer major league players are taking baseball training to the next level with motion analysis and the BFS
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•
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FIELDING
HITTING
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TRAINING & EQUIPMENT
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Sports are meant to build character and teach life lessons
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individual athletes stand out and impress, instead of improving the overall program. This has been a setback to the game
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between the rise in high school and youth
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sports injuries and young athletes putting too much stress
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Robin Jennings:
BFS SUCCESS STORY
stress on the body if they strengthimportant to find an edge that didn’t
trained during the season, especially on
involve these drugs but still enabled fast
the road. What is the current thinking
in recovery and staying competitive.
this area?
BFS: But do steroid users have
JENNINGS: It’s still divided. There
longer careers than non-steroid users?
Robin Jennings
are coaches on the professional level who
JENNINGS: I don’t believe so. One
was a standout
encourage their players to make the
player at all
of the major drawbacks of steroid use is
effort to weight train on the road, and
levels of the
that it can easily shorten your career
game.
there’s definitely a group that doesn’t
because the injuries will eventually take
believe it’s necessary for baseball.
over,
not
to
mention
the long-term
I’ve
rs and coaches that BFS: What is your take on the
effects they have on your health.
some of the playe
was controversy?
steroid
in 1972,
BFS: Are chronic injuries common
would say that I
Born in Singapore
JENNINGS:
worked with, they
I
One of the most com- among pro baseball
felt like
players?
successes in high
the time, I just mon misconceptions about the steroid
Jennings had early
injury prone. At
JENNINGS: Almost every player
playved his goals of
hard and got hurtcontroversy is thinking that it allows peo- will tell you that he’s
game
the
d
school as he achie
ailing
playe
in some fashBFS: With stricter drug testing and
ple who ordinarily wouldn’t be able to
, all region, all
better.
hit ion during the season almost every
day.
tougher penalties for those who get
being all conference
ing – now I know
homepro
runs to hit home runs. Actually,
That’s because you don’t have the recovwant to play
politan. He
caught, do you see that many players and
guys who can hit the ball 500 feet with
BFS: Are kids who
state and all metro
ery time in baseball that you have in
guidcoaches are taking a closer look at their
ic scholarship to
the right sort of steroids could already hit the ball 400
some other sports, even though it’s not
signed a full athlet
baseball getting
as strength and conditioning programs?
feet without steroids. It’s a matter of
rsity after two
Unive
physical.
That’s
State
why
a
strength
training is
ance?
Florid
JENNINGS: I hope that in all
, I Players who take performanceyet
one handdegree.
really coming to the forefront in baseball,
Junior College,
sports that they are taking a closer look.
JENNINGS: On
enhancing
years at Manatee
out drugs are looking for an edge. and coaches are trying to
d.
h informationWhen
figure out what Is it idealistic to think
professionally instea
that we will all be
I
believe there is enoug
works and what doesn’t.
decided to sign
g peoplesaid earlier I’d have done
on a level paying field? Yes, unfortunatesome things differently in my career if
about how youn
, when he was 24
I’d
BFS: Is it possible for baseball playthere right now
On April 19, 1996
ly, because since the dawn of time some
is, doing
what I know now, I was thinking ers
to the big
all – thatknown
up
baseb
who
for
called
use
a
sound
got
conditioning
train
proathletes have cheated to be better in
should
about
years old he
forI would approach recovery.
how
sound
gram year-round to compete against
mentally The
Cubs. Now he is
go
funda
are
Chica
sports
–
the
whether
that
it was a spitball or a
guyskids
on steroids recover faster by
things
leagues by
players who are using steroids?
can
many
corked bat, there’s always someone trying
level. But too taking
to coaching so he
performance-enhancing drugs,
their particular
JENNINGS: You would have to be
devoting his life
rs.
thefactpros
something to get the edge on their comand the
that they can go out and
ing about what
with young playe
unbelievably disciplined and dedicated
are already worry
to petition.
share his knowledge
e get
ngs
without
g peopl
pain gives them a mental
how many
be at the same level as the person who
to see younplay
interview, Jenni
is
hen you consider
BFS: How can baseball players overIn this exclusive
edge
are doing. I’d like
and that
a- edge is huge when you
a –found
taking steroids. But I’m not saying it
and
of the sport,
als
ies
play baseball
ment
realit
kids
come
of
the
funda
slumps?
ns
play
170 games a year. So it would be
millio
back to the
opens up about
can’t be done.
y to how the
JENNINGS: I believe a slump is a
the chances
th.
steroid controvers
in this country,
th tion in streng
breakdown of the confidence you norl ath- from the
general philosoin the areas of streng
the 750 professiona
BFS: What is your
mally have about your natural ability. It’s
game is changing
all?
of being one of
omisuccess in baseb
leagues are astron
almost never a physical thing, but some
about achieving
conditioning.
letes in the major
to sound
career, if phy
going
of those and
your
is
at
one
is
This
:
athletes
back
ngs
try to deal with it as if it were
ing
Jenni
JENNINGS
BFS: Look
cally slim. Robin
what
because it’s a lot easier to attack things
odds,
baseball is a repeti
thing differently,
who defied the
very ordinary, but
you could do some
ing
from a physical perspective. The best
amazing athletes
and
s sport, and work
lly for 12 years
book that I ever read dealing with sport
tious, monotonou
would it be?
d
playing professiona
it takes to
traine
what
with
have
is
es
als
would
leagu
I
ment
psychology was a book my agent recommajor
JENNINGS:
ory
th on the funda
making it to the
mended to me: The Inner Game of
about muscle mem
of flexibility, streng
go, Colorado, and
get better. It’s all
smarter in the areas
Cincinnati, Chica
he
Tennis. The book had to do with success
I was always dediJennings told BFS
ng and recovery.
and repetition.
and failure and how to deal with the
Oakland. So when
things
iew him, traini
many baseball
but I did some
g to let us interv
mental side of sports. It just so happens
BFS: In the past,
cated to training,
would be willin
ful
too much
r
be
harm
in
answe
would
ed
result
there
to be a book about tennis, but the conrtantly, would
players thought
the wrong way that
to
and, more impo
cepts directly relate to what is happening
If you were to talk
ready with our ques“I think most players understand
that without the fans they wouldn’t
stress to my body.
in baseball.
frankly, we were
have a
job,” says
FEATURE STORY
An Insider’sBaseball
Look at Pro
A former pro
ballplayer talks
frankly about e
getting the edg
in baseball
W
Jennings.
tions.
30 |
BIGGER FASTER STRONGER
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
when he took up the game. The athletes
regrets in life has
who can go from one sport to another
nothing to do with
are truly amazing; because once you get
sports – it was stopping
to that level, all the skills are so sport speplaying an instrument in
cific. Deon Sanders, a prime example,
sixth grade. I’m 34 years old
was impressive; and Bo Jackson was one
now, and I wish more than anything
of the most phenomenal all-around aththat I could play an instrument. In life
letes ever. But that’s two guys in…how
you need to try as many things as you
long?
can because you only have one shot at
it.
BFS: At the high school level, do
BFS: What sort of goals do you
you think it’s better to play multiple
think are important for kids?
sports?
JENNINGS: I’ve always tried hard
JENNINGS: It’s up to the individProfessional baseball players get
to
set
goals
for
myself,
but
realistic
ones I
to
ual, but I think playing multiple sports
meet many celebrities. Here Jennings
can attain. In my freshman year in high
is shown with Andre Agassi.
when you are young makes you a better
school, I set a goal to play varsity. I came
athlete. I loved basketball and track, so
I
from a school in the Northern Virginia
BFS: When you watch baseball on
ended up doing those sports in high
area, where that was a hard goal. I
TV, do you think the sports commentaschool and actually played football in my
achieved that goal and then set higher
tors really understand what’s going on
in senior year. The time to concentrate
on
goals.
the game?
one is when you get feedback from an
I think that some kids, as well as
JENNINGS: There are some great
unbiased source that says you might go
some coaches and parents, forget that a
baseball commentators, and then there
to the next level. That being said, you
lot of confidence comes from achieving
are some who are – let’s say – not so
need to be realistic, as 96 percent of all
incremental goals. Instead of setting a
great. My favorite baseball commentator
high school athletes will never play past
goal to play in the major leagues, a kid
was Harry Caray. Did he get the game
high school.
should start by focusing on making the
right all the time? Probably not, but I
BFS: Do you think athletes can
Little League all-star team, and then on
loved listening to him.
burn out if they focus on one sport too
making the high school baseball team,
BFS: What do pro baseball players
early?
then on being a starter. Set and achieve
think about their fans?
JENNINGS: Absolutely, and you
goals one at a time, and eventually you
JENNINGS: I think most players
have to think about what you could be
may be prepared for playing in the big
understand that without the fans they
missing. You know, one of my biggest
leagues.
wouldn’t have a job, so I hope that most
of them keep that at the forefront and
Kristen and Robin Jennings
treat their fans with respect. Do I think
with Aden, Ava and Ali.
some fans go to excess? Yes. When you
walk out of the hotel to get some breakfast and the fans insist you sign all sorts
of stuff, that can be annoying.
BFS: What is your opinion of
Michael Jordan’s attempt to play professional baseball? Did he give up on baseball too soon?
JENNINGS: I saw Michael play in
a number of games. He’s probably the
greatest athlete of our generation, but his
abilities in basketball just didn’t translate
into exceptional skills in baseball.
Besides, it was late in his athletic career
www.bigger fasterstronger.co m
1-800-628-9737 | 31
d for
Jennings playe
faster
www.bigge r
P/Getty Images
MIKE FIALA/AF
46 | BIGGER FASTER STRONGER
BFS_JanFeb07_.indd Sec7:46
appears
e teams, and
four major leagu
strong er.com
ball cards.
ction of base
in quite a colle
1-800-628-9737
| 29
Robin was featured in the November/December 2006 issue of BFS. This article, along
with an archive of hundreds of other articles,
will soon be available on the BFS website,
www.biggerfasterstronger.com.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007
12/7/06 8:22:14 AM
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BFS Baseball incorporates the
latest training techniques with proven
old-school principles. BFS would like to
do its part to help redirect high school
and youth training programs away from
focusing on individual interests and
toward achieving a common goal. The
ultimate goal is to win a championship
as a team for the school or organization.
With the foundation of the proven
BFS system, professional instruction
and 21st century technology, BFS
Baseball is committed to assisting
athletes, dramatically improving talent,
greatly reducing injuries and instilling
passion. We look forward to helping
you achieve your goals and dreams.
BFS President Bob Rowbotham
welcomes Robin Jennings to the BFS
Team. Robin is now the head of our
BFS Baseball Program.
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